HISD asks public what it wants in next schools chief

STEVE MARK

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A small group of parents and school watchdogs is asked: “What kind of leader do you want to be HISD’s next superintendent?”

Patricia Ojobaro, who has been teaching at-risk students at Bellaire High School since 1993, walks slowly toward the microphone. You can tell, before Ojobaro says a word, that she has been planning her words carefully and appears to have built considerable weight on her shoulders, wondering if there might be some ramifications about what she is to utter.

“I want a leader who realizes that we’re not selling computers,” said Ojobaro, before returning to her seat in her school’s auditorium.

In HISD’s search to replace Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, Ojobaro’s remarks mean many things to many people. In the second of eight community forums and one of 25 search meetings in the next two weeks, district officials are already hearing pointed directives regarding what people want when Saavedra’s successor is selected. Tuesday’s meeting at Bellaire High was sparcely attended—only 20 or so non-district employees showed to share input—and led by Les Csorba of Heidrick & Struggles, the executive search firm hired by HISD.

“Certainly this is the most important assignment in the city of Houston,” said Csorba, “and this is the most important phase of the search.”

Whether or not those in attendance were using Saavedra substance or style as a barometer, comments were definitely linked to the outgoing superintendent.

“A little charisma would certainly go a long way,” said Nancy Lomax. “We need someone who is a strategic leader…and a consensus-builder with political savvy.”

“We need innovation. Our leader needs to be bold,” said Jeff Fetzer. “It’s like any business. If you’re not being creative and constantly innovating, you’re going to fall off to the competition.”

Said one parent, “This leader needs to be an inclusive leader, not an exclusive leader.”

Another comment: “I want someone who has a vision and can sell it.”

HISD board member Dianne Johnson, a few rows away, nodded in affirmative fashion when hearing that plea.

Said Johnson on the search: “It is a challenge. We’re not looking for sainthood, but we’re looking for attributes that are exceptional.”

Added fellow trustee Harvin Moore: “We probably all agree there’s all kinds of improvement to be done in a lot of different ways.”

One parent, Kim House, thinks current elementary teachers are not properly trained to recognize learning disabilities and puts that task squarely into the job description of the next superintendent. House felt one of her children, a fourth-grader at Kolter Elementary, was not properly assessed while in third-grade.

“The teachers have not been trained thoroughly to address this,” said House. “I’d like a superintendent who can come here and recognize that all kids need an education.”

With that, Les Csorba was on his way out of Bellaire’s auditorium. A quick break in the schedule meant attending his son’s Little League game, but that’s only a brief respite. The HISD Superintendent Barnstorming Tour continues.

“I find these meetings to be extremely helpful,” said Csorba. “There’s some stuff coming out that is not only helpful, but new, frankly. We have a very open mind — we haven’t written the profile yet, and a lot of this will be in the profile.

“This is the epicenter of education reform and one of the most progressive, reform-minded districts in the nation. It’s a pretty high profile for the most outstanding leader possible.”